What does it take to turn adversity into opportunity?

Simon Woodroffe has lived many lives - he started as a stage designer for music legends like Rod Stewart and Stevie Wonder, then took a leap of faith and built YO! Sushi into a global brand. But before his success, Simon faced struggles that could have derailed him entirely: a turbulent youth, including time in a young offender’s institution, and a personal crisis that left him at rock bottom.

In this episode, Simon opens up about his journey from hardship to entrepreneurial success. From pioneering conveyor belt sushi in the UK to launching the innovative Japanese hotel brand YOTEL, Simon has never shied away from reinvention. As one of the original Dragons on Dragon’s Den, he knows what it takes to take risks.

Simon shares how resilience, creativity, and an unstoppable drive helped him build a multi-million-pound empire and why he believes anyone can turn struggle into success.

We hope you find this episode inspiring and useful.

Links   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yosimonwoodroffe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yosimonwoodroffe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosimonwoodroffe

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@yosimonwoodroffe

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners 

Host: Andy Coulson  

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Hana Walker-Brown, and Bill Griffin

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global  

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected] 

Who better to explore the road to resilience than someone who has endured one of the most dramatic falls from grace?  

Tom Hayes was once a high-flying city trader, living a life of wealth and status— until the notorious LIBOR scandal in 2015 changed everything. Convicted and imprisoned, he lost his fortune, his luxury cars and his home - all while maintaining that his conviction was unjust. His trial also brought an unexpected revelation— his Asperger’s diagnosis, which he argues played a crucial role in his actions and the case against him. Here are Tom Hayes’ three crisis comforts.  

Full episode: https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/libor-scandal-trader-tom-hayes-on-prison-anger-and-aspergers/ 

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners   

Host: Andy Coulson      

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Hana Walker-Brown and Bill Griffin  

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global       

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]  

Paul Stewart is a former England footballer who played for Manchester City, Spurs and Liverpool. But behind the success was a harrowing secret – years of unimaginable childhood abuse at the hands of a trusted coach. He shares his powerful journey from suffering to recovery – a story of pain, resilience but lasting hope. Here are Paul Stewart’s three crisis comforts. 

Full episode: https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/england-star-paul-stewart-on-turning-a-secret-trauma-into-a-mission-of-hope/

Links      

Twitter: @PStewy103 

Website: https://paulstewartofficial.com 

Paul’s book ‘Damaged: My Story – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Damaged-My-Story-Paul-Stewart/dp/1910335738

Safeguarding Fundementals – https://safeguardingfundamentals.com

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners  

Host: Andy Coulson     

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Mabel Pickering  

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]

Paul McKenna is not just a world-renowned hypnotherapist; he’s a one man self-help powerhouse, a best-selling author, and a sought-after behavioural scientist who has helped thousands overcome their greatest challenges. And now with his new book Power Manifesting – he is on a mission to empower as many as possible to lead a better and more productive life. Here are Paul McKenna’s three crisis comforts.

Full episode

https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/paul-mckenna-on-purpose-gratitude-and-living-your-full-potential/

Links    

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iampaulmckenna/

Twitter: @ImPaulMcKenna 

Website: https://www.paulmckenna.com

Book: https://amzn.eu/d/a1RQvgA

Charities 

https://veterans-aid.net

Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm

Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk

Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners 

Host: Andy Coulson    

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Mabel Pickering 

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global     

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]

Having arrived in Britain as a five-year-old refugee fleeing the Nazis on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie Shirley went on to build one of Britain's most successful software companies. She built a business valued at $3 billion and has dedicated the last three decades of her life to philanthropy, giving away most of her personal wealth. Here are Dame Stephanie’s three crisis comforts.

Full episode 

https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/dame-stephanie-shirley-on-91-years-of-resilience-and-brilliance/

Links 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie_/?hl=en

Website: https://www.steveshirley.com/

Book

Let It Go (2019): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Go-Extraordinary-Entrepreneur-Philanthropist/dp/0241395496

Charities 

Autistica: https://www.autistica.org.uk/

Autism at Kingwood: https://www.kingwood.org.uk/

Prior’s Court: https://www.priorscourt.org.uk/

The Oxford Internet Institute: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/

The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists: https://wcit.org.uk/ 

Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm

Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk

Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners

Host – Andy Coulson   

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]

Having arrived in Britain as a five-year-old refugee fleeing the Nazis on the Kindertransport, Dame Stephanie Shirley went on to build one of Britain's most successful software companies. Using the pen name ‘Steve’ to be taken more seriously by clients, she built a business valued at $3 billion, turning 70 staff members into millionaires along the way. But her impact goes far beyond the business world. Dame Stephanie has dedicated the last three decades of her life to philanthropy, giving away most of her personal wealth. Once the 11th richest woman in the UK, she’s the only person to drop off the Sunday Times Rich List due to generosity. 

Inspired by her late son, Giles, who was profoundly autistic, Dame Stephanie has helped transform care for those with autism along with supporting a range of other causes. In this episode she shares stories from her childhood, her career and her personal life – all of them packed with invaluable lessons. A former podcast guest of ours, Baroness Martha Lane Fox, wrote the foreword to Dame Stephanie’s brilliant memoir, Let it Go; and described her as “ ... a role model for how to build your life, not just your company.” She wasn’t wrong.    

Links 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damestephanie_/?hl=en

Website: https://www.steveshirley.com/

Book 

Let It Go (2019): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Go-Extraordinary-Entrepreneur-Philanthropist/dp/0241395496

Charities

Autistica: https://www.autistica.org.uk/

Autism at Kingwood: https://www.kingwood.org.uk/

Prior’s Court: https://www.priorscourt.org.uk/

The Oxford Internet Institute: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/

The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists: https://wcit.org.uk/ 

Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm

Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk

Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners

Host – Andy Coulson   

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering, Linus Fielder, Linus Difford

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]

Katie Melua has sold more than 11 million albums and picked up 56 platinum awards along the way. She had her first hit aged just 19 and was thrown immediately onto the treadmill of writing, recording, tours, promotion. More hits followed, but not without a very heavy price - her sudden fame contributed to an acute psychotic breakdown in 2010. Here are Katie’s three crisis comforts.  

Full episode 

https://www.crisiswhatcrisis.com/podcasts/100th-guest-special-singer-katie-melua-on-teenage-fame-a-psychotic-breakdown-and-how-she-found-her-way-back/

Links 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiemeluaofficial/

Website: https://katiemelua.com/ 

Stream/buy ‘Allies’ by Some Velvet Morning: https://ampl.ink/qp6bm

Some Velvet Morning Website: www.somevelvetmorning.co.uk

Your Daily Practice: Sleep by Myndstream: https://open.spotify.com/track/5OX9XgJufFz9g63o2Dv2i5?si=b2f9397c92084682

This podcast is brought to you by Crisis What Crisis? Productions and Coulson Partners

Host – Andy Coulson   

CWC team: Jane Sankey, Louise Difford, Mabel Pickering, Linus Fielder

With special thanks to Ioana Barbu and the brilliant people at Global      

For all PR and guest approaches please contact – [email protected]